Memorial U presidential search gets new chairman
After much controversy, high-profile lawyer aims to improve relations between the provincial government and faculty
Burke has fended off accusations from some faculty members of violating the university’s autonomy after she admitted earlier this year she personally interviewed and rejected two candidates vying for the presidency. The presidential search has been at a standstill since.
In an interview, Burke defended Dalton’s record as the board’s chairman and said Simmonds would provide invaluable leadership as the school continues looking for a new president.
“I’m confident that Mr. Simmonds will be able to deal with any issues that he faces in his role as the chair of the board of regents,” she said late Tuesday.
Burke has not elaborated on why she rejected the candidates – one of whom was Memorial acting president Eddy Campbell – except to say she did not want to “settle for anyone.”
The university is now asking the provincial government to amend the law that gives the cabinet the authority to approve or reject the school search committee’s selection for president. But Premier Danny Williams has rebuffed calls to change the law.
In many other provinces, universities do not need the approval of their provincial governments to select incoming presidents.
The school began looking for a new president more than a year ago after Axel Meisen announced his resignation earlier than planned.
During his tenure, Meisen clashed with Williams over the premier’s plan to convert Memorial’s campus in Corner Brook, N.L., into a separate university.
Simmonds was the former law partner of the province’s current finance minister, but said he wasn’t concerned over how some may view his appointment.
“As I understand it, the position does not pay . . . and I’m going to have to spend time away from my practice. None of those indicate to me a patronage appointment,” he laughed.
- The Canadian Press
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And so it comes to this. Simmonds is not concerned over how some may view his appointment. Not surprising given that NL is now virtually a dictatorship. Perhaps Simmonds will be a better lackey than the last one, but the one thing we’ve noticed is people of talent and independence do not work for Danny Williams. They leave.
Burke did not want to “settle”? Give us a break.
When historians write about this time period in NL’s history, it will probably be called “the days of Black Danny and his mob of incompetents” or “When all the good ones left”…